Grading machine



Jan. 19, 1943. c. DOUTHITT 2,308,590

GRADING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 Zhwentor gomeg Jan. 19, '1943. c, DOU'THITT 2,308,590

GRADING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 El 20 V 21 C'harzespo Patented Jan. 19, 1943 PAET OFFiCE 2,308,590 GRADING MACHINE Charles Douthitt, Roswell, N. Mex. Application August 31 1940, Serial No. 355,082

2 Claims. (on. 37-126) This invention relates to improvements in grading machines, its underlying purpose being to provide .a. simple and durable apparatus which can be made to perform a variety of digging, grading and loading operations. In carrying out these fundamental purposes the specific objects of the invention are briefly related below:

First, to provide a machine of the character described which is essentially of a rugged nature so that it can be employed in rough places.

Second, to provide a grading machine which, by comparison with other contrivances for the same purpose, is small and compact and for that reason capable of use where the room is limited.

Third, to provide a grading machine which because of its comparative smallness is capable of use as an excavating machine in pits having steep, sharp sides. I

Fourth, to provide a machine of the character described which is particularly useful in the building up or construction of high, narrow dams of earth or analogous material.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a grading machine of the character herein disclosed.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken sub stantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 together with dotted line position of the scoop when elevated.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the machine, parts being shown in section.

Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the positions of the scoop when scraping and dumping;

In carrying out the invention use is made of a tractor i with which the elements of the instant invention are capable of combination because of the fact that no specific type of known tractor is required to make the grader an operative machine. This tractor includes the conventional road wheels 2 which are mounted on an axle 3. This axle is driven by gearing in gear cases 5, said gearing (not shown) deriving its power in any known way from the engine 5 which is an indivisible part of the tractor. With respect to the working of the invention it is essential only to identify the jack shaft 6 as part of the power plant of the tractor, it being from this shaft that power is derived for the operation of the scraper or scoop.

The latter is designated i. It has side walls 8 which connect the curved closure wall 9, the

structural arrangement being such that the scoop is open at the top and front. as at Hi, It for the handling of the earth, rock or the like which is intended to be scooped up and transported. A frame generally designated i2, carries the scoop l. Said frame includes side arms 53 which are connected at it to generally compose a U, in which the scoop i is pivoted at l5 by means of suitable trunnions.

The otherwise free ends of the side arms i3 are pivoted by means of trunnions l6 to the cases or housings d so as to be capable of up and down swinging for the transportation and loading of materials. A baflie plate i? is fixed at it to the side arms I3 so as to maintain a rigid relationship in respect to the scoop l. The front opening it which is now identified as the mouth of the scoop i confronts the bafie plate ll (Fig. 3) in such a manner that a partial closure is effected.

The normal loading position of the scoop l obviously requires that the mouth it shall be open to an extent sufiicient to admit the earth as the scraping action proceeds. The 'mouth opening desirably is and can be fairly large so that there will not be any hindrance to the admission of the earth during the scraping action. But the size of the mouth is no detriment to the subsequent operation of the machine because the earth entrapped in the scoop will so mound itself over the mouth it that little if any will sift out during transportation.

A hanger it also of U form (Fig. 4), is coupled onto the trunnions i5 as a condition precedent to the support of the scoop i at the desired altitude in respect to the ground surface. This hanger has cables 20 attached to it, said cables passing over guide sheaves 2i and ultimately being secured to drive sheaves 22 (Fig. 2). The latter sheaves are affixed to a suitably supported jack shaft 23 which is equipped with a worm gear 2d and a ratchet wheel 25. The worm gearing 2d, 26, and worm 27' are to be regarded as rep resentative of that specially constructed type of drive mechanism wherein the gear 2t may revolve the worm 2i and the worm in turn will revolve the gear 26. On the other hand when the pawl 30 is manually released the weight of the scoop will cause reverse rotation of gear 26 and likewise the worm 2! and gear 26. This reverse rotation of the gears occurs when the clutch 28.

is out.

Thus asuggested arrangement includes a worm gear 26 on the originally mentioned jack shaft 6, the two members-2t, 26, being intergeared by a worm pinion intermediary 21. It is to be remembered that any preferred substitute can be employed for this arrangement. The latter desirably includes a clutch 28 which is shifted by a pivoted lever 29. The engagement of the clutch causes the raising of the scoop I. At that time the dog 30 should be held off from the ratchet wheel 25 after said dog has been manually released by any suitable tool. Said dog is engaged with the ratchet wheel during the transportation of the load after the scoop has been raised and the clutch 28 disengaged.

In order to prevent the scoop 1 from rotating on its pivots I5 during the scraping operation use is made of a detent which is here shown to consist of curved flanges 3| on the side walls 8 of the scoop I, each of the flanges having a recess 32 for the normal occupancy of the respective lug 33 of a pair of such lugs on a mount 34. This mount is in the nature of a U frame which is hinged at 35 to the hanger IS. The detent gravitates to its engaging position with the walls of the recesses 32, and it can be raised from that position by an attached cord 36 which leads off to a place of convenient access.

Stops 31 are afilxed to the scoop 1 at predetermined points, preferably to the flanges 3| which are conveniently in line with the lugs 33. The purpose of the stops 3'! is to engage the lugs 33 after the detent means has been raised, thus to limit the clockwise rotation of the scoop I to the dumping position.

The operation is readily understood. The usual scraping position of the scoop i is shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The combined weight of the scoop l and the whole frame l2 serves to hold the scoop down to its operative position. It remain suspended from the cables 20, and since these are capable of being lengthened or shortened by an adjustment which can be made at the ratchet wheel 25 and dog 30 it is readily understood that the scoop I can be made to work at any desired altitude in respect to the ground surface.

As the scoop fills with earth the latter piles up against the fixed baffle plate IT. The center of gravity occurs at the right side of the pivots I5. This would ordinarily stabilize the loaded scoop but reliance is put on the interengagement of the lugs 33 with the walls of the recesses32 to prevent the turning of the scoop on its pivots.

Now when the scoop is loaded the clutch 28 is engaged for a sufiiciently long time to slightly raise the scoop from the ground. It is changed from position a (Figs. 3 and 5) to position b. It has been explained that the opening ii is not large enough to permit any considerable sifting out of material. After the load has been transported to the desired location the operator raises the mount 34 so as to displace the lugs 33. Since the center of gravity occurs on the right of the pivots I! as previously stated, the scoop I turns clockwise to the dumping position c (Fig. 5). This position is limited by the engagement of the stops 31 with the lugs 33, care having been taken not to raise the mount 34 any higher than absolutely necessary to effect the foregoing disengagement, thereby leaving the lugs 33 in the path of the stops 31.

The interengagement of the lugs 33 and stops 31 occurs also when the scoop I is employed in road leveling. At that time the frame i2 is let down so as to bring the scraping edge of the scoop close to the ground surface the natural tendency to turn during the ensuing forward motion of the machine being checked by the foregoing interengagement.

I claim:

1. A grading machine comprising a wheeled vehicle of the tractor type including a power jack shaft, gearing in coupled relationship to said shaft, a clutch for causing operation of the gearing at will, a scoop suspending means between the gearing and scoop, said means including a hanger, a frame pivoted on the vehicle at the respective inner sides of the gear casing of the vehicle, trunnions attached to the scoop carrying both the hanger and frame at a common pivot point on which the scoop turns, check means embodied in the gearing comprising a pivoted dog for holding the framing and scoop suspendedwith respect to the ground line when the gearing is dormant, detent means movably carried by the hanger having a releasable connection with the scoop to prevent turning of the scoop when in operation.

2. In a grading machine, a frame portion including side arms and a rear bar connecting said side arms, a scoop situated between said side arms and in front of the rear bar, and having a mouth, suspension means for the scoop including a hanger, pivot means attached to said scoop for the frame and hanger comprising a pair of trunnions on which both the frame and hanger pivot, a baflle plate fixed on the side arms in position to partly obstruct said mouth and to provide an entrance opening while loading, and' detent means tending to prevent dumping of the scoop. the side of the scoop being provided with recesses. said detent means including a movable member and lugs carried by said member, and engageable with the recesses for holding the scoop in an elevated position and at a predetermined height, and means carried by the scoop and engageable with the movable member when said movable member is manually raised from first named recesses a predetermined height to a position in the path of the scoop engaging means for limiting the movement of the scoop.

CHARLES DOUTHITI. 

